Mum’s cash dash for son

A mum whose little boy fought a rare brain condition, is lacing up her trainers to raise money for the charity which kept them together during his treatment.

Jodie Dutchman will complete the Bupa Great Yorkshire Run later this month to raise hundreds of pounds for the Sick Children’s Trust.

The charity’s ‘home from home’ accommodation supported Jodie and her husband Stephen when their son Blake, now six-years-old, received lifesaving treatment at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Blake needed specialist care when he had a rare reaction to a common drug, which caused inflammation on his brain – known as posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome – which in turn caused Blake’s heart rate to drop, his blood pressure to rise and seizures. He spent three months at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Jodie, aged 27, of Huddersfield, said: “Huddersfield is an hour away from Sheffield, so when I was told we wouldn’t be able to stay with Blake on the ward, my heart broke. Thankfully we were told about a ‘Home from Home’ located on the top floor of the hospital.

“Treetop House helped us hugely. It was such a great help to have somewhere to go and wash clothes, store and cook food and also get a few hours’ sleep. Simple things like having a bath or a shower made such a difference – even if it was 2am.